Gorgone Checkerspot
Common NameGorgone Checkerspot
Scientific NameChlosyne gorgone
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsorange, black
HabitatPrairies, grasslands, open fields, roadsides, dry open woodlands
Geographic RangeCentral North America, from southern Canada through the Great Plains to Texas, and east into parts of the Midwest.
Host PlantsHelianthus (sunflowers), Ambrosia (ragweed), Rudbeckia (coneflowers)
Flight PeriodApril to October (multiple broods depending on region)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on host plant leaves. Larvae are spiny, black with orange markings, and feed communally before pupating into a chrysalis.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its prominent checkered pattern of orange and black. The underside of the hindwing typically has a pale median band and lacks extensive white markings, differentiating it from similar checkerspot species.
Description
This butterfly displays a vibrant checkered pattern of bright orange and black on its dorsal wings, with a dark, hairy body. The hindwings feature a distinct row of orange spots near the outer margin.
